Hair retaining device



April 3; 1951 w, WEEKS 2,547,295

HAIR RETAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 INVEN TOR. Wi l 2 WEI KT ZdfuJX/QMMW Patented Apr. 3, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wendy Weeks, Great Neck, N, Y.

Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,746

This invention relates to hair-retaining devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair-retaining device which is formed in "such a manner that hair can be extended into openings for receiving the hair locks within the spaced portions of the device wherein the sides 'of-"the portions adjacent the enlarged opening of each portion are relieved to permit the flexure of the opposite sides of the portion equally and to relieve the strain of the opening of the portions from the end of the portion.

It'is another object of the present invention to provide a hair band formed in a continuous serpentine fashion of plastic as by injection molding, and in one piece, to receive hair from the opposite edgessof the same and having "springing action to grip and retain the hair as the portions of the band are drawn together.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a hair-retaining device which is of light :weight, which is easy to form, easy to insert in the hair, adapted to be hidden within the hair, which is of simple construction, inexpensive manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which i 1 1. a plan view-of a. band formed according to the present invention as iii-appears in the mold.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the band as it appearswhen released froin the mold and turned on edge for use.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a head with the hair extended over the band and as viewed more from thefrcnt of the figure. -'J v I 5 Fig. 4 is a side view of the head of'a wearer of the band and looking more upon the side; of the band and illustrating how the same is extended over the top of the head and about the back of the neck.

6 Claims. (01. 132-46) ill Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device as when used more like a comb to retain the hair.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another modified form of the invention wherein the device is formed more like a comb, but with curved teeth.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged collective and fragmentary view showing the ends of the teeth which are used with the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of another modified form of the invention wherein there are a plurality of enlarged opening spaces throughout the length of the teeth while' receiving and retaining the hair looks with the opposite sides being of opposing shape to provide for the openings.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modified form of the invention wherein the teeth portions are of serpentine shape within themselves.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown the hair-retaining device in the form of a band adapted to be expanded around the head of the wearer over the top and about the back of the neck as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The band is formed of plastic or other light weight material which may be flexed and comprises a series of serpentine portions I2 having spaces I3 and I4 entering from the opposite sides of the band for receiving locks of hair. These locks of hair will extend on opposite sides of and about the band and may completely enclose it. The band is preferably formed by an injecti-on molding process and in one endless strip. The band will, as shown in Fig. 1, be of flat shape when lying in the mod. When the band is put into use, it may be turned on its edges so that the portions are upright and as illustrated in Fig. 2. The band can be extended and sprung with ease depending upon the dimensions of the portions I2. Preferably the ends of the portions l2 are thickened as indicated at l5 so that breakage at the ends will not result and so that the strain will be divided and lie upon the sides of the portions and not at the ends I5. I The portions l2 accordinglyprovide teeth andthese teeth extend alternately to; first one side and then the other. 'When. the band is disposed about a head, the hair is rolled into the same as indicated at lfiand. 11.; '-A' strip: of the band may appear at the sideiof the-head .as shown in Fig. 4;

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a hair-retaining device in the form of a comb with serpentine portions [8 extending to a greater width than the portions I2 of the band and being of than on the ends.

less number. Each portion "3 has sides I9 and 20 adapted to be spread apart to receive the hair. The ends of the portions l8 are thickened as indicated at 2| and have enlarged openings 22 formed by a thinning of the sides l9 and 2B and adapted to receive and retain the locks of hair and at the same time allow the sides l9 and 20, at points removed from the ends, to come together to confine the hair within the openings 22. By having the enlarged opening 22, the sides l9 and 20 are accordingly thinned as indicated at 23, so that they may be sprung from the sides and without placing a stress on the ends 2|. Accordingly, the strain upon the portions are divided so as to lengthen the life of the device. In Fig. 6, it will be seen that the portions may be curved as indicated at 24 as is characteristic of ordinary combs. 'These combs will receive hair from the opposite sides of the same and will be so extended into the hair that only the tip ends'of portions may appear through the hair. The thinness of the side portions at 23 ill determine the ease with which the portions may be expanded and their retaining effect.

In Fig. 8, there is shown a still further form of the invention wherein the portions of the device are formed to have a plurality of enlarged openings 26 within its portions 21. The sides,

.as indicated at 28 and 29, are in themselves formed in serpentine fashion as well as are the portions 21 throughout the extent of the device.

The side portions 28 and 29 oppose one another .and will engage with one another at the ends of the openings as indicated at 3|. Accordingly, two locks of hair will be retained within a single portion and slightly spaced from one another.

.' In Fig. 9, there is shown a still further form of the invention wherein the sides of each portion 33 are in themselves of serpentine contour,

they are shown to follow one another instead of opposing one another. The sides are indicated .at 34 and 35. The ends of each portion are thickened to place the strain on the sides rather The hair will be confined throughout the length of the portion 33 and held against displacement therefrom by virtue of the circuitous shape of the opening within which the hair is confined.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hair-retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between 'which locks of hair may be confined and retained,

the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the ends of the portions being thickened whereby to divide the bending .istresses between the sides of the portion and removed from the ends.

2. A hair-retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between which locks of hair may be confined and retained, the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the ends of said portions being thickened whereby to divide the bending stresses between the .sides of the por- "tion and removed from the ends'and enlarged openings being provided in the ends and out of the sides thereof whereby the bending stresses will be divided between the sides of the portion adjacent the enlarged openings, the openings being adapted to receive the locks of hair and permit the engagement of the sides of the portion at locations removed from the enlarged openings.

3. A hair-retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between which locks of hair may be confined and retained, the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the ends of the portions being thickened whereby to divide the bending stresses between the sides of th portion and removed from the ends, said portions having their respective sides of serpentine configuration to provide enlarged openings throughout the length of the portion. y

4. A hair-retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between which looks of hair may be confined and retained, the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the ends of the portions being thickened whereby to divide the bend,- ing stresses between the sides of the portions and removed from the ends, said portions including outer rounded ends and having sides formed in serpentine fashion whereby to provide a serpentine passage for the confinement of hair throughout the portions.

5. A hair retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between which looks of hair may be confined and retained, the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the ends of the portions being thickened whereby to divide the bending stresses between the sides of the portion and removed from the ends, said serpentine portions being arranged in endless fashion to form a band and adapted to be sprung apart to receive the locks of hair and to retain them upon the portions bein released and against lateral displacement from the band.

6. A hair retaining device comprising a series of serpentine portions having sides between which looks of hair may be confined and retained, the portions being enterable from the opposite sides of the device, the endsof the portions being thickened whereby to divide the bending stresses between the sides of the portion and removed from the ends, said serpentine portions being arranged in endless fashion to form a band and adapted to be sprung apart to receive the locks of hair and to retain them upon the portions being released and against lateral displacement from the band, said band in a state of rest being fiat with the portions resting on their faces.

WENDY WEEKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 23,628 Great Britain NOV. 21, 1901 

